Job: Income Maintenance/ Public Assistance Technician II

Job Description

Job Type: Full time, Salaried

Wage: $44,000-$47,000/yr. 

Location: Leadville, CO.

Job Description

Determines initial and ongoing eligibility for public assistance in Lake County.

General Duties and Responsibilities - Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Essential Functions:

Duties

• Makes contact with persons requesting financial, medical, and food assistance. Receives applications from persons for assistance, such as public assistance and general assistance, in these program areas. Interviews the applicants and provides short-term counseling in these areas.
• Assesses need, interprets programs, and makes referrals appropriate to services and assistance available in the department or community.
• Assists clients in completing forms. Secures verification of eligibility factors such as income, resources, identity, age, citizenship, residence, and social security number.
• Determines eligibility for these programs by interpreting rules, regulations, and policies governing each program area. Authorizes continuation, reduction or termination of benefits when the recipient is determined to be ineligible for the level of benefits received. Interfaces, on a daily basis, with a computer system requiring accurate, complete data entry forms. Interprets and evaluates computer generated data to determine application to individual case processing as in approvals, changes, discontinuations, and denials.
• Clarifies and interprets appeal rights and procedures to the client who responds to notices generated by the computer.
• Assesses client’s needs and determines financial eligibility for initial applications and for redeterminations of continuing eligibility.
• Determines the need to recover funds and for referral for fraud investigation’s; prepares for and represents the department in evidentiary conferences and state hearings; recognizes and records appropriate documents related to recoveries and retroactive payments.
• Difficulty of Work: Level I. Technical training level position which requires incumbents to learn and apply rules and regulations, develop interviewing and other communication skills, and utilize information systems reports to update or review client information.

Other Duties

• Serve as a positive and professional representative of LCDHS.
• As a part of the Lake County Department of Human Services, this position is required to serve Lake County in Emergency Service Function 6 (Mass Care and Mass Shelter) as needed

Supervisory Responsibilities Not applicable

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Experience and Training Guidelines Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: Level I:

• Graduation from High School or GED equivalent.
• One-year full time responsible work experience related to eligibility for public financial assistance in a department of social services.

Knowledge of: Level I

• Eligibility rules and regulations for food stamps, adult assistance programs and Medicaid.
• Other community agencies and/or programs.
• Basic and effective communication techniques.
• Skill in interviewing techniques as well as written and oral communication.
• Understanding of human behavior.

Ability to: Level I

• Apply basic math and read, interpret, and apply manual regulations.
• Understand local office policy and procedures.
• Develop and maintain working relationships with applicants, recipients, coworkers, advocacy groups, legal representatives, the public and other agencies of the community.
• Make an objective distinction between relevant and non-relevant information when making eligibility decisions.
• Deal with hostile applicants.
• Read and interpret written material into practical application.
• Compile several documents; input correct figures and information to accurately compute eligibility and payment.
• Detect errors and make corrections.

Equipment Utilized: 

Standard office equipment

Contact with Others:

• Contacts with recipients are to gather information, determine eligibility, explain the program, procedures, and regulations, and make referrals to other available services.
• Contacts with the public are to verify income and resources and provide general information.
• Level I. Supervisor provides training and detailed instructions on rules, regulations, procedures, forms, equipment, and communication techniques. Work is closely reviewed for complete documentation and accurate eligibility decisions. Errors would be detected quickly by the supervisor. The Supervisor of Public Assistance supervises position.
• Hazards: May deal with escalated clients.
• Preferred proficient in English and Spanish.

Lake County Benefits - Full-Time Employees

As a reflection of the value we place on the contributions of our employees, the County offers a competitive benefits package for full-time employees. Please review the 2023 Benefits Guide for full details. The Guide provides information on Lake County Government's benefit offerings, including:

• Employer-Sponsored Medical and Dental Insurance Plans
• 100% Employer Paid Vision Plan
• Flexible Spending Account
• Health Reimbursement Account
• Employer-Sponsored Short-Term Disability Insurance
• 100% Employer Paid Long-Term Disability Insurance
• 100% Employer Paid Term Life Insurance
• Supplemental Life Insurance Plans
• 401(a) and 457(b) Employer Matched Retirement Plans
• Paid Vacation, Sick Leave, Personal Days and Holidays
• Employee Assistance Program
• Public Health Emergency Leave
• Discounts on concerts, major sporting events, electronics, travel, cars and more!

Lake County Benefits - Part-Time Employees

Lake County is also proud to offer paid sick time off, Public Health Emergency Leave, and flexible work schedules for our part-time employees.

EOE Statement

Lake County is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status. Assistance or accommodation during the application process due to a disability is available upon request.

Notice of Emergency/Disaster Responsibilities

All Lake County Employees may be required to work as a Disaster Service Worker when a local declaration of emergency or disaster is declared by the Board of County Commissioners.

Other Duties

Please note that this job description does not intend to cover or contain a full comprehensive list of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. 

**Disclaimer: The duties and responsibilities described above are not a comprehensive list and additional tasks may be assigned to the employee, time to time; the scope of the job may change as necessitated by business demands. Click “View Application” below for more detail on this specific job.